Next Lawyer Up Podcast with Attorney Ron Sykstus Ron Sykstus

I was very happy to catch up with my Marine Corps’ Officer Candidate School bunk mate on this episode of the podcast.  Pete is a great guy and he, along with Brian Sullivan, helped me get through OCS. The three of us remain close friends to this day.  After receiving his Marine Corps’ commission, Pete served as a Marine Corps officer for many years before moving to the DEA for the rest of his professional career.  Here is the thing that I have always liked about Swick – in the email he sent to me about scheduling this podcast, he puts this on the bottom of his email signature, and I couldn’t love this any more than I do!

Paul “Hypo” DiGioia is the kind of guy whom everyone considers a great friend.  He has an engaging and up-tempo personality that immediately attracts a crowd.  I have been fortunate enough to know Hypo since about the 6th grade. I couldn’t have been happier to see him show up for this podcast wearing  “The Loop” t-shirt.  WLUP was important to a lot of us growing up in the Chicago area when we did. I really enjoyed catching up with Hypo on this episode and talking about our mutual history and how his life has  evolved over the year

Brian and I met under very unique and stressful circumstances when we were 20 years old at the US Marine Corps’ Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. This article in the Washington Post made me question my decision to attend OCS.  I then ended up  watching this movie, Baby Blue Marine, with Jan Michael Vincent, the night before leaving for Quantico.  As a result, I was extremely concerned about my upcoming fate at Quantico!  Sully and my bunkmate, Pete Swicker, made the time and stress at OCS manageable and the three of us still talk to this day. It is hard to believe that over 40 years have passed by since we first met. I enjoyed catching up with Brian on this episode.  

 I have known attorney Eron Epstein as a colleague with the American Consumer Bankruptcy College for the past couple of years. Eron, as you’ll hear, has an easygoing and affable personality that makes him very relatable to his clients.  On top of that, Eron has been practicing consumer bankruptcy law for many years in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  That area of the country is fortunate to have Eron as an asset.  Eron is clearly an attorney who has mastered his craft and, fortunately for Chattanooga residents, he has no plans on retirement any time soon!  I enjoyed getting to know his history on this episode of the podcast.   

Sparks Ford is a great guy with a great wife and kids!  This is exactly who you want at a party and he holds a room naturally.  He has been in sales for his entire career and that is exactly where he needs to be!  I have been fortunate enough to have known Sparks for twenty years or so and I am always happy to see him and talk to him.  I hope you enjoy hearing his story on this episode.

I have known attorney Todd Farmer as a colleague with the American Consumer Bankruptcy College for the past couple of years. Todd, along with his law partner, Sam Wright, are the co-founders of Farmer and Wright.  They have offices throughout Kentucky, hence the phrase “the Kentucky boys!”  Both Todd and Sam strike me as very bright, personable, driven and focused. I've never really seen lawyers take apart every aspect of their own law practice on a consistent basis in order to make sure things run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, ultimately ensuring great results for their clients. There is never any complacency with these guys!  They practice in the areas of consumer bankruptcy, immigration, personal injury and social security disability.  I think you’ll enjoy hearing about Todd’s humble roots from junior college to accountant/CPA, restaurateur, and ultimately to where he is at now.